PC and Music News

Universal Audio today announced the release of UAD V 5.3. This new firmware for the UAD DSP cards includes three new plug-ins : the UAD 4K Channel Strip, the UAD 4K Buss Compressor and the Cooper Time Cube MkII.

The UAD 4K Channel Strip is an exacting circuit emulation of the SSL 4000 G+, complete with the Type E "black knob" four-band EQ widely held to be the favorite in SSL's console lineage. The companion UAD 4K Buss Compressor, with its simple control set and transparent compression characteristics, faithfully models the 4000 G+ buss compressor. The UAD 4K Channel Strip sells for $249, while the UAD 4K Buss Compressor is available for $199. Each of the UAD 4K plug-ins includes a 14-day fully functional demo and is now available for purchase to UAD-1 and UAD-2 owners.

The original Cooper Time Cube was a Duane Cooper and Bill Putnam collaborative design that brought a garden hose-based mechanical delay to the world in 1971. Since then the Cooper Time Cube has achieved cult status as one of the most unique delay lines ever made. The Cooper Time Cube is famous for its spectacular short delay and doubling effects and its renowned ability to sit perfectly in the mix. Over the years this quirky device has grown a strong following and finds a home in the most prestigious studios in the world, such as Blackbird and Sunset Sound. The Cooper Time Cube MkII is a feature-enhanced evolution on the original delay system design. While the plug-in retains the all-important mechanical delay sound of the original hardware, it goes much further by offering all the necessary features expected from a modern delay device: Delay, Decay, Pan and Volume controls plus Tempo Sync and Automation for each of the two independent delay lines. The Cooper Time Cube Mk II includes a 14-day fully functional demo and is now available for purchase to UAD-2 owners for $149.

Discover those new plug-ins on 440tv !

At this year's Winter Namm show, Spectrasonics announced and previewed their brand new virtual instrument 'Trilian', the long awaited successor to their Trilogy bass module.

The recording for Trilian is now complete and, according to Spectrasonics' Creative Director, Eric Persing, the quality and expression of the new sounds they've captured is even better than they had originally planned !

Spectrasonics have also added some new features to the software, which will make a big difference for the end users and, as such, a little more editing and testing time than originally expected is needed to complete the release.

We can therefore confirm that the official release date for Trilian will now be 29th June 2009.

In the meantime, don't forget there will be a special free upgrade offer for Trilogy customers on the Intel-Mac platform and for customers who purchase Trilogy in 2009.

TC Electronic has announced that for two weeks beginning March 25th you can get a 50% discount off the PowerCore Tube-Tech CL 1B plug-in.

The CL 1B plug-in is based upon highly advanced component emulation technology, and brings the legendary analog sound of the CL 1B compressor/limiter to the PowerCore platform. The CL 1B utilizes a carefully crafted algorithm so efficient that it allows the use of up to two instances in stereo at 44.1 kHz or one instance in stereo at 96 kHz per DSP chip on 2nd generation PowerCore hardware (Compact, FireWire, Express, PCI mkII & Unplugged). The CL 1B plug-in is compatible with all types of PowerCore hardware.

Puremagnetik has just released a new Micropak called B-System: Percussives and described as "a unique sonic adventure" through 10 electronic drum kits and 40 rhythmic loops recorded from an original Buchla 200e modular synthesizer.

B-System Percussives for Ableton Live includes ten full 2 octave kits (over 650 individual samples) programmed with advanced Macro integration and effects mapping. Utilizing multi-velocity zones for the ultimate in expression and playability each kit is sonically charged for instant electronic gratification! The Ableton Live version also includes 40 Live Clips of preprogrammed material, each one expertly tailored with effects racks and advanced Macro controls.

The Kontakt version of B-System comes with 10 menus of over 20 multisampled percussion sounds and a menu of looped phrases. Each instrument has been uniquely programmed with a custom Kontakt KSP GUI for instant tweakability.

B-System Percussives for Logic includes a collection of 10 electronic kits, multiple pre-programmed channel strips and 40 advanced SIAL loops that integrate flawlessly with EXS24.

Note that B-System: Percussives is the first in a series of B-System Micropaks that focus mainly on the Buchla 200e's percussion generating capabilities.

Pricing : Basic Monthly Subscription: $5.75/Month Basic Yearly Subscription: $60/Year All Access Pass - $198/Year.

Toontrack Music are delighted to announce the worldwide shipping of the very first SDX expansion pack for Superior Drummer® 2.0, the "New York Studios Vol.2 SDX".

The SDX contains unique recordings from legendary New York Studios Allaire and Hit Factory N.Y. and MIDI played by super session drummer Nir Z.

The "New York Studios Vol.2 SDX" is available now at a price of $179 / €139. Note that audio examples are already available at :

EarMaster ApS releases a lighter version of its ear training software EarMaster 5.

EarMaster Essential 5 offers the core features of EarMaster Pro and represents a valuable alternative for musicians and music students on a tight budget, yet not willing to give in to low-end instructional material. Like its bigger brothers EarMaster Pro and EarMaster School, EarMaster Essential is available in 21 languages for both Mac OS X and Windows. The official introduction of the program will take place at the 2009 Frankfurt Musik Messe on the booth of EarMaster's German distributor Klemm Music Technology.

Central features :

· 139 progressive lessons from classical music to rock, including a set of Jazz lessons.
· 4 exercise areas to learn how to identify transcribe and play intervals, chords, and rhythms.
· User-defined on-screen interfaces: staff, multiple-choice, piano, guitar, bass, violin, cello, and more.
· Interactive answering methods: MIDI instrument, microphone, plugged-in instrument, or the computer keyboard and the mouse.
· Detailed statistics.
· A customized mode to target specific elements of practice, etc.

Suggested retail price: US$/€ 29.95